tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post8884645511354775842..comments2024-02-19T13:11:04.970-05:00Comments on Ponderings on a Faith Journey: Paul's Universalism -- Philippians 3 (Bruce Epperly)Robert Cornwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-9434574690144053892011-08-31T21:35:59.128-04:002011-08-31T21:35:59.128-04:00I believe in the universe. That's a lot for me...I believe in the universe. That's a lot for me.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496392728357471483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-80962287036659009722011-08-31T11:56:46.016-04:002011-08-31T11:56:46.016-04:00Gary,
I am not seeking to justify my own actions,...Gary,<br /><br />I am not seeking to justify my own actions, but to better understand how I may live up to Jesus commandment that I love my neighbors as Jesus loves me, <br />- even if my neighbors are Samaritans who do good though they do not know Jesus, <br />- even if they are Romans out to kill me, <br />- even if they are sinners and tax collectors who would cheat me at every turn, <br />- even if they are immoral and unrepentant, and <br />- even if they are Pharisees insisting on a narrow and hard-hearted understanding of what it means to be faithful.<br /><br />I think Christian love requires that we pray for their good and not for evil; and we know that their good has little to do with this life and everything to do with their eternal salvation. So that is what we pray for. Anything less surely breaks God's heart and denies the message of the Gospel.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-31673287234572682302011-08-31T11:55:13.327-04:002011-08-31T11:55:13.327-04:00http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_motive
App...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_motive<br /><br />Appeal to Motive is a logical fallacy. <br /><br />"Universalism is the dream of those who insist on doing everything as THEY want, and then pretending that God will still approve of them.<br /><br />Epperly has misunderstood Paul. Deliberately, I would guess."Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396901667077846319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-38339036553813096412011-08-31T11:43:50.461-04:002011-08-31T11:43:50.461-04:00Paul was NOT a universalist. Neither were any of ...Paul was NOT a universalist. Neither were any of the other Biblical writers. Neither was Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Universalism is the dream of those who insist on doing everything as THEY want, and then pretending that God will still approve of them.<br /><br />Epperly has misunderstood Paul. Deliberately, I would guess.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08574147787996161877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-19134701311976163992011-08-31T08:23:53.137-04:002011-08-31T08:23:53.137-04:00Well said John!
There is a nice book with a past...Well said John! <br /><br />There is a nice book with a pastoral tone that promotes universal salvation. It was written by two alumni of Christian Theological Seminary who are Indiana Quakers.<br /><br />If Grace Is True: Why God Will Save Every Person,<br />by Phillip Gulley & James Mulholland. <br /><br />"Participation in bliss awaits everyone." - St. Gregory of Nyssa, 335-390Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396901667077846319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-15431536803668029512011-08-31T08:13:25.411-04:002011-08-31T08:13:25.411-04:00I cannot understand the notion of Christian exclus...I cannot understand the notion of Christian exclusivity. <br /><br />Even the most ardent exclusivist will grant that God loves everyone and desires the salvation of all. Even the narrowest will acknowledge that as Christ's ambassadors we are personally called to love each and every one of our neighbors. All will agree that the election of souls for salvation is a matter of God's choice, according to God's own unknowable criteria, and not our private merit. So then why is a theology which embraces the 'other,' and which prays for their salvation as earnestly as we pray for our own, and which leaves unfettered the possibility of God's infinite mercy, so contemnable? <br /><br />Why do otherwise pious Christians want to predetermine whom God will save before God has a chance to act? It is not like we get a prize for the most correct guesses - more likely we loose points for excluding those whom God included!<br /><br />Since we cannot know or even guess the whole truth of the Gospel, why not simply focus on living out the Gospel in our relationship with God and with all of our neighbors? <br /><br />While we cannot know, we can do.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245470576919732592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-29942997059031494642011-08-31T08:10:35.396-04:002011-08-31T08:10:35.396-04:00Paul shows a lot of universalism. In 1 Corinthian...Paul shows a lot of universalism. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul states that love does not insist on its own way. Whatever happens (or doesn't) when we die, surely God does not insist on thinking or feeling the "right" things. Certainly afterlife experience cannot be impacted by magic ritual (coming forward and confessing Jesus Christ as lord and savior).Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396901667077846319noreply@blogger.com